49ers open season at Green Bay

The NFL unveiled the dates for the 2012 season Tuesday, and the 49ers drew a doozy in Week 1: A Sept. 9 visit to Lambeau Field, where the Packers, 15-1 last year, have won 13 straight regular-season games and have beaten San Francisco in eight straight contests dating back to 1996.

The good news: It won’t be below freezing (average mid-afternoon temperature in Green Bay on Sept. 9: 71 degrees).

The kickoff in Green Bay is one of several circle-in-red-ink games on a schedule that features five prime-time contests, the maximum allowed by the league and the most the 49ers have had since 1999. Seven other teams will play five prime-time games this season.

The games under the lights for the 49ers, who played nine prime-time games from 2008 to ’11: Sept. 16 (Sunday night) against Detroit in the home opener; Oct. 18 (Thursday night) against Seattle; Oct. 29 (Monday night) at Arizona; Nov. 19 (Monday night) against Chicago and Dec. 16 (Sunday night) at New England.

Not included in prime time are highly anticipated rematches against San Francisco’s playoff opponents from last season. The 49ers will host the Giants on Oct. 14, marking New York’s third trip to Candlestick Park in 13 months. They will visit the Saints on Nov. 25. New Orleans interim head coach Joe Vitt will be back on the sideline after serving a six-game suspension connected to the team’s bounty scandal. Several Saints defensive players who could also be facing suspensions probably would be back as well.

After the season-opening visit to Green Bay, the 49ers will play two of their next three games on the road. And their road itinerary could include a familiar pit stop: Youngtown, Ohio, the hometown of CEO Jed York.

San Francisco stayed in Youngstown between road games at Cincinnati and Philadelphia in Weeks 3 and 4 last year. This season, they will play at Minnesota and follow with a visit to the Jets in Weeks 3 and 4. A team spokesman said it hasn’t been determined whether the team would stay in Ohio again.

After Week 4, the 49ers will have what appears to be a favorable stretch. They will play five of their next six games at Candlestick – the lone exception being a trip to Arizona – and five of their opponents missed the playoffs in 2011.